Michigan State coach Tom Izzo is concerned about the Spartans' rebounding, so Adreian Payne will be one player he hopes can elevate his game in that area.Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

EAST LANSING — If there's one quality that has stood out in Michigan State basketball, it's rebounding.

"So this is a strange team for me to coach with the way we are, and the way we always have played,'' Spartans coach Tom Izzo was saying following Michigan State's 61-50 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday night at Breslin Center.

"I know some people would just like to be plus (rebounding margin) on the boards,'' he said. "I'm used to being plus-10 leading the nation, and we're plus-3 and leading nobody.''

The Golden Gophers did a number on the Spartans on Wednesday, out-rebounding Izzo's team 38-28 — the second time this season they have done so.

The rebounding margin, to which Izzo referred, shows the Spartans No. 5 in the Big Ten with a plus-2. Saturday's opponent, Purdue, ranks fourth in the Big Ten with a plus-2.3 rebounding margin.

"It's a major concern for me,'' Izzo said. "But when BJ (Dawson) is playing — or not playing — that hurts us. Derrick (Nix), again having to play too many minutes (32 vs. Minnesota) because of the way rings are.

Michigan State's Gary Harris is fouled by Minnesota's Austin Hollins during their game at the Breslin Center in East Lansing on Wednesday. Michigan State won the game, 61-50. Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

"We're not rebounding the ball very good.''

Izzo said that are circumstances that have affected Michigan State's ability to compete on the boards.

"If Gary (Harris) gets a rebound, it's because it falls to him, because he doesn't go in there at all, nor do I want him to right now,'' Izzo said, referencing the injured shoulders that have plagued the talented freshman throughout the season. "Because our guards aren't doing a very good job, so we start bringing our two guards back (on defense, as opposed to crashing the boards) because of the injuries.''

Izzo could ill-afford for Harris or Denzel Valentine to suffered dehabilitating injuries, as the Spartans are a man down after the Brandan Kearney transfer and Travis Trice's head injury.